Quick lock assembly for refrigerator unit

ABSTRACT

A device for locking a refrigeration unit into a recessed end of a shipping container. The novel feature comprises a special locking arrangement which is entirely activated by means of the forks of a forklift truck. The locking arrangement includes (a) at least one actuating arm pivotally mounted on the bottom of a refrigeration unit, said actuating arm being spring biased in a normally downward position and including at least one lateral locking projection adapted to engage a catch in the shipping container when the actuating arm is in the downward position and prevent either upward or outward movement of the refrigeration unit with respect to the container and further adapted to release from the catch only by an inward and upward push of the actuating arm against the resistance of the spring and (b) interengaging elements on the refrigeration unit and shipping container recess which normally prevent outward movement of the refrigeration unit and which disengage only by lifting the refrigeration unit with respect to the container, so that the refrigeration unit can be released from the container only by forcing the actuating arm inwardly and upwardly to disengage the lateral projection from corresponding catch while simultaneously lifting the refrigeration unit to disengage the locking elements.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Maurice Beaudet St. Laurent,Montreal, Quebec, Canada [21] Appl. No. 854,203

22 Filed Aug. 29, 1969 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee GaltEquipment Ltd.

Candiac, Quebec, Canada [32] Priority May 28, 1969 [33] Great Britain[54] QUICK LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATOR UNIT 1 1 Claims, 12 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 62/298, 62/297, 62/239 [51] Int. Cl F25d 19/00 [50] Field ofSearch 62/298, 299, 77, 297, 239

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,902,837 9/1959 Willis62/239 2,968,933 II] 961 Pfeifer 62/298 Primary Examiner-William J. WyeAttorney-Fetherstonhaugh & Co,

ABSTRACT: A device for locking a refrigeration unit into a recessed endof a shipping container. The novel feature comprises a special lockingarrangement which is entirely activated by means of the forks of aforklift truck.

The locking arrangement includes (a) at least one actuating armpivotally mounted on the bottom of a refrigeration unit, said actuatingarm being spring biased in a normally downward position and including atleast one lateral locking projection adapted to engage a catch in theshipping container when the actuating arm is in the downward positionand prevent either upward or outward movement of the refrigeration unitwith respect to the container and further adapted to release from thecatch only by an inward and upward push of the actuating arm against theresistance of the spring and (b) interengaging elements on therefrigeration unit and shipping container recess which normally preventoutward movement of the refrigeration unit and which disengage only bylifting the refrigeration unit with respect to the container, so thatthe refrigeration unit can be released from the container only byforcing the actuating arm inwardly and upwardly to disengage the lateralprojection from corresponding catch while simultaneously lifting therefrigeration unit to disengage the locking elements.

PATENTED JUL I 3 I97! SHEET 1 BF 5 PATENT AGENTS PATENTED Jun 3 I97!SHEET 2 BF 5 FIG.5

INVENTOR M. BEAUDET PATENTEDJULIBIQ?! 3 '59? 019 saw u or s INVENTOR M.BEAUDET PATENT AGENTS INVENTOR M. BEAUDET PA 'I'ENT AGENTS PATENIED JUL1 3 l97l SHEET 5 [1F 5 FIG. 9

FIG. K)

FIGH

QUICK LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATOR UNIT This invention relates to adevice for locking a refrigeration unit into a recessed end of ashipping container.

It is now a widely accepted practice to ship perishable goods inrefrigerated shipping containers having a refrigeration unit fitted in arecessed end of the container. Such containers are used for transportinggoods by road, rail or ship and the refrigeration units are normallyremoved from the containers when they are not being used to transportperishable goods.

In the shipping container, one end wall is moved inwards a suitabledepth to receive a refrigeration unit and it has been the usual practiceto bolt the refrigeration unit into place in the recess. The insertionand removal of these bolts makes in stallation and removal of therefrigeration units very time con suming and, at the same time, thebolts can be easily removed so that there has been a problem oftampering and theft in association with these refrigeration units.Attempts to overcome this have been made by the use of padlocks, butthese can, of course, be easily broken by the use of a metal bar,hacksaw, hammer etc.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a quick andsafe means for inserting and locking a refrigeration unit into arecessed end of a standard shipping container.

According to this invention at least one actuating arm is pivotallymounted on the bottom of the refrigeration unit. This actuating arm isspring biased in a normally downward position and includes at least onelateral projection adapted to engage a catch in the shipping containerwhen the abutment plate is in the downward position and to preventeither upward or outward movement of the refrigeration unit with respectto the container. It is further adapted to release from the catch onlyby an inward and upward push of the actuating arm against the resistanceof the spring.

Interengaging locking elements are further provided on the refrigerationunit and shipping container recess which also normally prevent outwardmovement of the refrigeration unit with respect to the container andwhich disengage only by lifting the refrigeration unit with respect tothe container.

The refrigeration units are heavy devices which are normally lifted andtransported by means of a forklift truck. By arranging the actuatingarms such that they can be engaged by the forks of the forklift truck,the locking device provides an extremely simple arrangement forinserting and removing a refrigeration unit.

Thus, to remove a refrigeration unit from a container, the forks of aforklift truck are pushed under the unit, contacting the actuating armsand forcing them inwardly. This disengages the projections from thecatches and then by raising the forks the refrigeration unit is liftedso that the interengaging locking elements are also disengaged. Finally,the refrigeration unit is pulled out of the recess in this raisedposition.

When a refrigeration unit is to be installed in a container recess, theunit is simply picked up by a forklift truck with the forks engaging theactuating arms as described above. It is then inserted into the recessby means of the forklift truck and lowered so that the locking elementsinterengage. Then, the forks are pulled out from beneath the unit,releasing the actuating arms which snap down under the force of thesprings causing the projections to engage the catches.

It will be evident that this represents a very simple method for theinsertion and removal of the refrigeration unit. Moreover, it provides avery safe locking device. The reason for this is that the actuating armscan be provided with very strong springs so that they can only bepivoted against the force of these springs by means of a very heavydevice, such as a forklift truck. This combined action of forcing theactuating arms against the resistance of the strong springs and liftingthe refrigeration unit while forcing the arms in the above mannerrepresents a very effective locking arrangement. Since this combinedoperation can only be accomplished in practice by using a heavy machinesuch as a forklift truck, in order for an unauthorized person to tamperand/or remove the refrigeration unit he must not only have access to aforklift truck but also be familiar with the unlocking procedure thatmust be followed when using the forklift truck.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the floor of theshipping container recess is provided with a pair of spaced-apart guideswhich are disposed longitudinally of the container. The bottom of therefrigeration unit is also provided with a pair of guides which arecomplementary to the guides in the container recess. The actuating armsand associated projections are pivotally mounted on the bottom wall ofthe refrigeration unit for engagement with slots in the sidewalls of theguides in the container recess.

According to a particularly preferred feature of the inven tion, a pairof actuating arms are mounted inside U-shaped guides on the bottom ofthe refrigeration unit, these guides serving to protect the actuatingarms and also to receive the forks ofa fork lift truck.

The invention is illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end of the container and of therefrigeration unit aligned for engagement with each other;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the recessed end of the container with therefrigeration unit fitted in place;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along line 4-4 of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view similar to FIG. 5 taken along the line66 of FIG. 2 but with the refrigeration unit removed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through one of theguide units showing the pivoted locking device;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational section taken along line 99 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 5showing the pivotal lock engaged in a slot in the guide;

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of the upward facing surface of thebottom wall of the refrigeration unit taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 2,showing one of the pivotal locking devices; and

FIG. I2 is a perspective elevational view of the side locking members onthe sidewalls of the container and refrigeration unit.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, thecontainer 5 is of the type used for shipping goods in bulk by road, railor ship, and has an open recess 6 formed in one end thereof, having arear wall 7, top and bottom walls 8 and 9 and sidewalls I0 and II.

The refrigeration unit 12 is of an overall size to conveniently fitwithin the recess 6 of the container 5 and is provided with a pair ofU-shaped guides 13 on its underside 14. These guides 13 provide suitableslots to receive the forks 15 of a forklift truck whereby therefrigeration unit can be lifted into and out of the recess 6 in thecontainer.

A pivotally mounted actuating arm 16 is located within each of theguides 13 and is mounted on a torsion bar 17, one end of which isanchored on the inner face 18 of the bottom wall of the refrigerationunit 12. The guides 13 are adapted to slide on the guides 19 of thebottom floor 9 of the container recess 6.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, a torsion bar 17 ispivotally mounted on actuating arm 16 by means of brackets 30. Thetorsion bar 17 is also provided with a loop 31 which is held in place onthe actuating arm 16 by means of bracket 32 and is pivotally mounted onthe bottom of the refrigeration unit 18 by means of brackets 33. It isthen finally anchored to the bottom wall 18 by means of the angularportion 34 which is fixed in bracket 35.

Adjacent to the lower edge of actuating arm 16 is fixed a rod 20 havingprojecting ends forming locking pins 200. Each U-shaped guide 13 hasbevelled sides [30 and these bevelled sides have arcuate slots 22 withinwhich the locking pins 200 move.

The guides 19 in the container, as shown in FIG. ll0, are reinforced byplates 41 and both the guides and plates are provided with arcuate slot21 and 42 respectively, which are in register with slots 22 when therefrigeration unit is in place in the recess. As can be seen from FIGS.9 and 10, when the locking pins 20a are in the locked position they areat their lowermost position A, in which they project through all threeslots 22, 21 and 42. As the forks 15 move into U-shaped guides 13, theycontact actuating arms 16 and force them to position B. This effectivelydisengages the locking pins 20a from the slots 21 and 42 and then whenthe forks are raised, the actuating arms are raised still further toposition C. A bracket 40 is provided on the bottom of the refrigerationunit to limit the movement of actuating arms 16.

Additional locking elements are provided in the form of projectingblocks 23 on the outer sidewalls 24 of the refrigeration unit 12 andprojecting blocks 25 on the inner sidewalls l and 11 of recess 6 in thecontainer 5. The general arrangement of these projecting blocks can beseen from FIG. 1, while details of the blocks in interengagingrelationship are shown in FIG. 12.

Thus, it will be seen, that in removing the refrigeration unit, when theforks are in U-shaped guides 13 and are then raised, they hold thelocking pins 20a in position C out of locking engagement with slots 21and 42 while at the same time the unit 12 is lifted within recess 6until the bottoms of blocks 23 horizontally clear the tops of blocks 25.The refrigeration unit is then moved horizontally out of recess 6.

To insert a refrigeration unit into the recess in the end of thecontainer, the actuating arms 16, which normally block the guides 13,are forced by the forks of the lift truck from a position A to aposition C (FIG. 9) against the resistance of the torsion springs 17. Atthe same time, the angled surfaces of the blocks 23 wipe on the angledsurfaces of the blocks 25, excluding the need for the fork truckoperator to vertically position the refrigeration unit in the recess 6of the container. in other words, the refrigeration unit can be rammedin until the unit is pressing against the rear wall 7 of the recess.This is achieved by the combination of the actuating arms 16, againstwhich the fork truck arms push, with a proper entrance slope of thesurfaces on the blocks 23 and 25.

After the refrigeration unit is moved into the recess and against therear wall 7 and the blocks 23 drop behind the blocks 25, the actuatingarms 16 will take a position B (FIG. 9). Next the forks are moved out ofthe U-shaped guides 13, allowing locking pins a to assume position Cunder the force of torsion bar 17.

The refrigeration unit 12 is operatively connected to shipping container5 via openings 26 and 27 in the rear wall 7 of recess 6. These openingsare surrounded by sealing gaskets 28. When the refrigeration unit islocked in position in the recess, it presses against the gaskets FIGS.3, 4 and 5) to prevent leakage of gases between the refrigeration unitand the interior of the container. The opening 26 connects with the gasdelivery from the refrigeration unit while the opening 27 provides forthe return flow of gases from the interior of the container to therefrigeration unit in the usual manner.

The embodiments of the invention in which I claim an exclusive propertyor privilege are defined as follows:

1. A device for locking a refrigeration unit into a recessed end of ashipping container, comprising (a) at least one actuating arm pivotallymounted on the bottom of a refrigeration unit, said actuating arm beingspring biased in a normally downward position and including at least onelateral locking projection adapted to engage a catch in the shippingcontainer when the actuating arm is in the downward position and preventeither upward or outward movement of the refrigeration unit with respectto the container and further adapted to release from the catch only byan inward and upward push of the actuating arm against the resistance ofthe spring and (b) locking elements on the refrigeration unit adapted toengage corresponding locking elements in the shipping container recessto normally prevent outward movement of the refrigeration unit and whichdisengage only by lifting the refrigeration unit with respect to thecontainer, so that the refrigeration unit can be released from thecontainer only by forcing the actuating arm inwardly and upwardly todisengage the lateral projection from corresponding catch whilesimultaneously lifting the refrigeration unit to disengage the lockingelements.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the actuating arm is fixed to atorsion bar.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a pair of U-shaped guides aremounted on the bottom of the refrigeration unit forming channels toreceive the forks of a forklift truck and an actuating arm with laterallocking projections is mounted within each said channel.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said lateral lockingprojections move within arcuate lots in bevelled sidewalls of saidU-shaped guides.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said lateral projections moveinto arcuate slots in bevelled sidewalls of said U shaped guides to lockthe said refrigeration unit within the container and are moved out ofsaid arcuate slots when the said actuating arm is displaced against theresistance of the said spring.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein bevelled guide surfaces arealso provided in the shipping container recess, which are in registerwith the bevelled sidewalls of the U- shaped guides, said bevelled guidesurfaces also having arcuate slots which are in register with the slotsof the U-shaped guides and which engage the locking projections of theactuating arms when the refrigeration unit is in position in the recess.

7. A device according to claim 5 wherein the interengaging elements arein the form of projecting blocks on sidewalls of the recess andsidewalls of the refrigeration unit.

8. A device according to claim l in which the refrigeration unit has agas outlet and a gas inlet, and the adjacent end wall of the recess inthe shipping container has corresponding registering apertures,compressible gaskets surrounding the apertures in the container endwall, said gaskets being compressible to seal the gas outlet and gasinlet in the refrigeration unit when the said refrigeration unit is inlocked position within the container recess.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein a pair of U-shaped guides aremounted on the'bottom of the refrigeration unit forming channels toreceive the forks of a forklift truck, and an actuating arm with laterallocking projections mounted within each of said channels, said laterallocking projections being movable within arcuate slots in bevelledsidewalls of said U-shaped guides, bevelled guide surfaces also beingprovided in the shipping container recess which are in register with thebevelled sidewalls of the U-shaped guides, said bevelled guide surfacesalso having arcuate slots which are in register with the slots of theU-shaped guides and which engage the locking projections of theactuating arms when the refrigeration unit is in position in the recess.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the interengaging elements arein the form of projecting blocks on sidewalls of the recess andsidewalls of the refrigeration unit.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein a pair of U- shaped guides aremounted on the bottom of the refrigeration unit forming channels toreceive the forks of a forklift truck, and an actuating arm with laterallocking projections mounted within each of said channels, said lockingprojections being movable within arcuate slots in bevelled sidewalls ofsaid U- shaped guides, the interengaging elements being in the form ofprojecting blocks on sidewalls of the recess and sidewalls of therefrigeration unit.

1. A device for locking a refrigeration unit into a recessed end of ashipping container, comprising (a) at least one actuating arm pivotallymounted on the bottom of a refrigeration unit, said actuating arm beingspring biased in a normally downward position and including at least onelateral locking projection adapted to engage a catch in the shippingcontainer when the actuating arm is in the downward position and preventeither upward or outward movement of the refrigeration unit with respectto the container and further adapted to release from the catch only byan inward and upward push of the actuating arm against the resistance ofthe spring and (b) locking elements on the refrigeration unit adapted toengage corresponding locking elements in the shipping container recessto normally prevent outward movement of the refrigeration unit and whichdisengage only by lifting the refrigeration unit with respect to thecontainer, so that the refrigeration unit can be released from thecontainer only by forcing the actuating arm inwardly and upwardly todisengage the lateral projection from corresponding catch whilesimultaneously lifting the refrigeration unit to disengage the lockingelements.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the actuating arm isfixed to a torsion bar.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a pairof U-shaped guides are mounted on the bottom of the refrigeration unitforming channels to receive the forks of a forklift truck and anactuating arm with lateral locking projections is mounted within eachsaid channel.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said laterallocking projections move within arcuate lots in bevelled sidewalls ofsaid U-shaped guides.
 5. A device according to claim 3 wherein saidlateral projections move into arcuate slots in bevelled sidewalls ofsaid U-shaped guides to lock the said refrigeration unit within thecontainer and are moved out of said arcuate slots when the saidactuating arm is displaced against the resistance of the said spring. 6.A device according to claim 5 wherein bevelled guide surfaces are alsoprovided in the shipping container recess, which are in register withthe bevelled sidewalls of the U-shaped guides, said bevelled guidesurfaces also having arcuate slots which are in register with the slotsof the U-shaped guides and which engage the locking projections of theactuating arms when the refrigeration unit is in position in the recess.7. A device according to claim 5 wherein the interengaging elements arein the form of projecting blocks on sidewalls of the recess andsidewalls of the refrigeration unit.
 8. A device according to claim 1 inwhich the refrigeration unit has a gas outlet and a gas inlet, and theadjacent end wall of the recess in the shipping container hascorresponding registering apertures, compressible gaskets surroundingthe apertures in the container end wall, said gaskets being compressibleto seal the gas outlet and gas inlet in the refrigeration unit when thesaid refrigeration unit is in locked position within the containerrecess.
 9. A device according to claim 1 wherein a pair of U-shapedguides are mounted on the bottom of the refrigeration unit formingchannels to receive the forks of a forklift truck, and an actuating armwith lateral locking projections mounted within each of said channels,said lateral locking projections being movable within arcuate slots inbevelled sidewalls of said U-shaped guides, bevelled guide surfaces alsobeing provided in the shipping container recess which are in registerwith the bevelled sidewalls of the U-shaped guides, said bevelled guidesurfaces also having arcuate slots which are in register with the slotsof the U-shaped guides and which engage the locking projections of theactuating arms when the refrigeration unit is in position in the recess.10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the interengaging elements arein the form of projecting blocks on sidewalls of the recess andsidewalls of the refrigeration unit.
 11. A device according to claim 1wherein a pair of U-shaped guides are mounted on the bottom of therefrigeration unit forming channels to receive the forks of a forklifttruck, and an actuating arm with lateral locking projections mountedwithin each of said channels, said locking projections being movablewithin arcuate slots in bevelled sidewalls of said U-shaped guides, theinterengaging elements being in the form of projecting blocks onsidewalls of the recess and sidewalls of the refrigeration unit.